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Misleading graphics

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Basil

Basil

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Ok, so I took an online poll asking a current events question. It was one of those "do you support X" questions. I answered "no" and then saw the results. 87 percent of the 32305 respondents answered "no" like I did and only 13% answered "yes." But look at the pie chart that was supposed to depict this "87 - 13" percent split:
 

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Yeah! Buncha dummies! The green shoulda been "No" and the orange "Yes"!
 
And if they don't know who sponsored it I'd bet 13% think the Y's skewed the results and 87% are convinced the #@%* Z's misrepresented the facts as usual.
 
Misleading graphic? Why, not at all!

The two choices are Yes and No. So 50% of the choice pool is Yes, and 50% is No.

Simple! The chart is showing the choices available, not the choices made.

:jester:

(Seriously, I'd bet most people never catch that problem. The human mind is pulled toward graphics more than numerical analysis. Sneaky, those poll folks. Reminds me of a 19th century lawyer's question: "Just answer me Yes or No! Have you stopped beating your wife?"

Tom
 
gubbermint survey? :whistle:
 
Well dah, we all know that orange and green mean the same thing. Check out the traffic lights. Doesn't orange mean green in a different shade? Well, doesn't it? And yes it's orange, not amber, not yellow...
 
Margin of error = 37% :rolleyes:
 
longbridgehealey said:
Margin of error = 37% :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'm a dummy. How do you figure the 37%?

Tom
 
NutmegCT said:
longbridgehealey said:
Margin of error = 37% :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'm a dummy. How do you figure the 37%?

Tom
Click to expand...

My guess: 87% initial answer - 50% pie chart answer = 37% margin of error.
 
Basil said:
NutmegCT said:
longbridgehealey said:
Margin of error = 37% :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'm a dummy. How do you figure the 37%?

Tom
Click to expand...

It;s statistics - you just make it up! :smile:
Click to expand...

did you know that 79% of statistics are made up on the spot? :jester:
 
Looks to me like 69% of Graphics are made up 100% OF THE TIME

m
 
:yesnod:
 
I was a senior operations manager for one of the two largest social science research companies in the country for 21 years, and I can tell you - What the client wants the survey to indicate, the statistics can verify if the analysts skew them appropriately. :devilgrin:
 
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